Kris Wells

​Christine “Kris” Schmader Wells, a resident of Colorado Springs since 1972 lost her battle with pancreatic cancer on Saturday, September 30, 2006, at the age of 56. She was born in Pennsylvania on February 23, 1950, to Donald and Louise Schmader. She was married to Jeffrey Wells on August 19, 1972, and they were blessed with two sons: Joshua and Jacob.

Kris was an extraordinary woman who will be mourned, celebrated and loved forever. She touched many lives during her 56 years through her involvement in many local and national organizations. She retired from Cheyenne Mountain School District 1 in 2004 after 22 years of teaching Junior high Spanish. In 1989 she received the Rose Award in recognition of outstanding service to education from the Cheyenne Mountain School District and she was named Colorado State Foreign Language Teacher of the Year in 2004. Kris previously taught at Pauline Memorial School, the Colorado Spring school and Air Academy Junior High. Her passion and enthusiasm inspired many. Her teaching led to authoring textbooks for Pearson Prentice Hall and presenting nation-wide for both Pearson Prentice Hall and the McGraw Hill Group.Kris volunteered for numerous organization including Zonta lnternational, Bear Creek Nature Center, Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival, Pikes Peak Library, Sister Cities Organization, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, and the Triple Crown of Running.

Many people also benefited from her busy hands knitting scarves, afghans and dish cloths. Her creativity, energy and enthusiasm for life were displayed not only in her teaching but also in everything she did. She packed more into one day than many people do in a week.She loved to go on hikes, do water aerobics and work out at Curves. Whether she was playing bridge or bunko, reading a book, watching the latest film or going to the theatre, every day was a reason to celebrate. No occasion or person went unrecognized. Kris made everyone feel special. Of all the gifts she possessed, the one she most often shared was her gift of gab. She would strike up a conversation with any friendly face, especially if they spoke Spanish.

Kris is survived by her devoted husband of 34 years, Jeff, son Jeff and his partner Tommy Craig of Denver, son Jake of Vail as well as her parents and a large extended family.

​In her memory, there is a bench along a trail at Bear Creek Nature Center that she frequented.

Founded in 1947, the Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers, Inc., is organized for the purpose of the advancement of the study and teaching of foreign languages in the schools, colleges and universities of the State of Colorado.